Joint packing



Oct. 10, 1944. l-ljw. BUHLER' JOINT PACKING Filed Sept. 1, 1942 PatentedOct. 10, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOINT PACKING Henry W. Buhler,Gloucester, Mass.

Application September 1, 1942, Serial No. 456,883

3 Claims.

This invention pertains to joint packings. One object of the inventionis to provide packing which may be made cheaply and rapidly and by theuse of existing types of machine; which may be made in any desiredtransverse dimensions and cross-sectional contours and in any reasonablelength; and which will retain the desired characteristics throughout along period of use.

In order that a joint packing may perform its intended functionproperly, it must be pliable, of substantially uniform cross section,transversely yieldable and preferably somewhat resilient, andmechanically tough, and resistant to physical, chemical andbacteriological factors to which it may be exposed during use. Commonlysuch joint packings have consisted of or comprised rubber, jute or hemp,all of which substances are at the present time diflicult to obtain forsuch uses. Another object of the present invention is to provide jointpacking having the above necessary and desirable characteristics butwhich may be made from material, for example paper or paper stock, whichis cheap and relatively abundant.

Such joint packings are designed to prevent leakage of fluid, sometimesat very high pressure, through the crevice which commonly exists whentwo rigid parts are joined or placed in juxtaposition, and for bestresults the packing should contact a substantial area of one or anotherof said rigid parts between which it is interposed. Thus, whereas apacking of circular cross section may be admissible under some specialconditions, it is preferable for most purposes to employ a non-circularpacking thereby to avoid a mere line contact and to insure adequateprotection against leakage. Moreover to prevent localized disintegrationand blowing out of the packing when subjected to high pressure, it isrequisite that the packing be resistant to tearing but at the same timeso flexible as to permit it to be employed in joints of substantiallyany contour or radius of curvature.

Furthermore, since it is quite common to provide the parts constitutingthe joint with a channel or channels of definite predetermineddimensions for the reception of thepacking, it is desirable to providepacking characterized by substantial uniformity of mass, tensileelongation, and lateral compressibility and having a cross-sectionalcontour generally similar to that of the channel in which the packing isto be employed, such characteristics insuring uniformity of performanceat all parts of the joint and a reasonable expectation that any portionof the packing, regardless of the length in which it may be produced,may be relied upon to give similar results under any similarcircumstances of use.

Thus a further object of the invention is to provide packing having theabove characteristics of strength, toughness and flexibility as well assubstantial uniformity of mass, tensile elongation, and lateralcompressibility, and having a cross-sectional contour preferablynon-circular and in general corresponding to that of the space in whichthe packing will be used.

Under some conditions of use such a packing may be exposed to theattacks of microorganisms such as cause mould or mildew and consequentweakening of the organic fiberstructure, and a further object of theinvention is to providepacking of this type consisting, as abovesuggested, wholly or in major part at least, of cellulosic material, forinstance paper fiber, but so protected against the effects of moistureand microorganisms that it will retain its initial strength for a longperiod of use even when exposed to adverse conditions such, forinstance, as warmth and moisture.

Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will bepointed out in the following more detailed description and by referenceto the accompanying drawing, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view of a shortlength of the improved packing of the present invention, 11-- lustratingan embodiment in which a resilient core or stuffer is enclosed in abraided jacket which maintains the initial cross-sectional shape of thepacking and which imparts a high degree of tensile strength to thepacking;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, indicatingthe structure of thecompleted packing in one desirable embodimentthereof;

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but indicating the constructionbefore the packing has been impregnated with the moistureproofing andmildew-resistant medium;

Fig. i is a diagram illustrative of various cross- Fig. 8 is aviewgenerally similar to Fig, 1, but illustrating a modifiedconstruction;

Fig. 9 is another View generally similar to Fig. l,

illustrating a further modification; V Fig. 10 is a fragmentaryelevation illustrating packing of a further modified form; and

'Fig. 11 is a fragmentary diametricalsection illustrating a jointbetween a pair of complemental tubular members with the packing 'ofthe'present invention interposed between said members.

Referring to'the drawing, the numeral I desig nates packing of adesirable form made in accordance withthe present invention. 7 Thispacking may be produced in any desired length, and when completed is soflexible that it may be rolled or coiled for convenience in handling.This packing'comprise's a core or'stuffer2 and an outer jacket'3. Thecore, as illustratedin Figs. 1 to 3 and 7, comprises crumped or foldedpaper preferably folded to form longitudinally extending folds 'orplies. L This paper may be either tissue paper or heavy paper such asKraft paper, and may beplain or'creped'as desired, and the transversesection of the core may compriseone or more sheets of this paper. 7Preferably'in forming the core, the paper is drawn through atrumpet-guide whichgathers it together laterally and forms it into moreorless'irregular folds F (Fig. 7).

i The jacket 3, as illustrated in Fig. 1, consists of interbraidedfcordsor 'twines 3 Preferably these cords or twines are hard twistedpapercords or twinest each of said cords or twines consisting, for example,of a ribbon R of heavy paper (either plain'or creped) or of thin tissuepaper (plain or creped) twisted upon itself or twisted with an die ofthedesired'contour as the braiding operation-takes place. Further, such atubular braided jacket, enclosing a core is strongly resistant toelongation'and is substantially devoid of tendency to'twi'st. ."In'thepractice of the invention a the r'naterialforming the yieldable core orstuffer 2 may be passed through a trumpet-guide thereby tofold orcrinkle the sheet material and reduce it substantially to the desiredtransverse dimensions andthen to cause this'material to pass is braidedabout it. By using a die of the proper contour and dimensions the cords3 fare sointerlaid and entwined withone another that when the' completedmaterial emerges from the braid- V ingdie'it'has the desired andsubstantiallypermanent-cros s-sectional shape and dimensions.

In; accordance 'withthe" present invention the core;2,3.1'1diitS-j36k6t3. (oroneof the other of a f V said"parts is or arecoated or preferably impreg- I nated with'a material M which isresistantor' repellent to: moisture and to the action of microorganismsuch for instance as those whiclrcause mildew or rotting; 'Thiscoatingor irnpregnant Preferably this impregnant or coating material compriseswaxymaterial such as paraffin, or some other moisture-repellent orresistant substance, for instance oils,'either vegetable or mineral, andassociated with this moisture-resistant,

or repellent material is'a substance which inhibits the action ofmicroorganisms, for example formaldehyde, aluminum acetate, cuprammo-'nium solution, cerium acetate, colloidal copper oxide, or otherWell-known substances having similar properties. Y a

'In Fig. 11 the improved packing of the invention is shown disposed in achannel 4 of substantially rectangular contour formed between two parts5 and 6 of tubular construction, the part 5 havingscrew-threadedengagement with the part 6 so as thereby to compress thepacking I within the channel4. and to provide a leak-proof jointObviously the packin i may 7 between the parts. be employed in othersimilar; or dissimilar arrangements'wherever it is desired to preventleakage betwen two substantially rigid parts which comprises a corewhich is transversely yieldable are mechanicallyunited or joined. V

In the arrangement shown in Figs. '1, 2 and 3, the packing is ofgenerally rectangular contour, in fact nearly square, but with roundedcorners. In Fig. iother cross-sectional shapes of packing areillustratcdmerely by way:of suggestion of the numberless shapes whichmight be employed.

Thus in this figure the packing I is of triangular.

form, the packing I? is of elongate rectangular form and the packing Iis a partial segment of,

a circle. I-Iowever, in eachinstance the packing and resilientand anouter jacket consisting of concatenated strands or cords so. arrangedasrto" resist elongation of the packing and to preserve,

the desired cross-sectional shape of the core.

While in Figs. 2, 3 and '7 the core is shown as consisting essentiallyof longitudinally extending folds or plies of paper, it is contemplatedthat thecore may be otherwise formed. Thus for example in Fig.3, thecore consists of a bundle-of cords'fi which, if, desired may be of thesame character as the cords'3 above described. .These cordsmay all bealike if desired, both as to the material from which they are made andas to size,or they maybe of different diameters and individually made'ofpaper of different character,

. for example some maybe made of heavy paper and others of tissue paper,etc.

As illustrated in r Fig. 9, the core comprises:

7 ribbons I. of paperand 'hand'twisted cords 3 throughfahollowbraidingdie while the jacket scope of theappended claims;

material may be applied to the cords 3 before q braiding orfto'the'paper forming the core before 7 V the paper is folded or crinkled,or theimpre nant or coating material maybe applied during a the braidingoperation or subsequently thereto.

Obviously other forms of core may be employed,

as for example a core 8 -(Fig. 10) of cellulose fiber unspun anduntwisted, for instance carded fiber in bat form rolled or transverselycrumpled, or merelyintheform of a heavy sliver. or a-plurality of suchslivers in Figs. 8 and 9 the jacket forming strands are shown as braidedsubstantially as closely as possible; 7

While certain desirable embodiments of the invention have been suggestedby way of example, a

it is to be understood that the invention is not necessarily restrictedto these precise embodi ments but is to, be regarded as broadlyinclusive of any and all equivalents falling within the Iclaim: I

' 1. Packing material for use in pipe joints or the like; and capable ofwithstanding heavy fluid pressure without blowing out andof productionin great lengths from which desired portions may be cut to formindividual joint packings, said packing material being of noncirculartransverse section such as closely to conform to the packing-receivingrecess of the joint in which it is to be used, said packing materialbeing pliable and capable of bending without breaking and including acore comprising flexible sheet material gathered together to form aplurality of longitudinally extending folds, and a jacket closelyconfining said core and holding it under transverse compression, saidjacket consisting of solid, hard and strong strands of twisted paper,the paper strands being closely braided substantially to conform to thedesired non-circular section of the packing, the packing also comprisingan impregnant medium including a waxy, moisture resistant substance anda, mildew repellent, the packing being characterized by substantialuniformity of mass, resistance to tensile elongation and lateralcompressibility and being substantially devoid of tendency to twist.

2. Packing material. for use in pipe joints or the like and capable ofwithstanding heavy fluid pressure and of production in great lengths,from which desired portions may be cut to form individual jointpackings, and which will not support nor encourage bacterial growth,said packing consisting of lengths of sheet paper which extendlongitudinally of the packing, some of said lengths being so associatedas to form a core and others of which are associated to form acoreenveloping jacket, respectively, those lengths of paper whichconstitute the jacket, at least, being hard twisted to form strong cordsand said cords being concatenated to form a close tubular braid, thejacket and core being pliable and capable of bending without breakingand the jacket closely confining the core and holding the latter undertransverse compression, the packing being characterized by substantialuniformity of mass, resistance to tensile elongation, and lateralcompressibility, and being substantially devoid of tendency to twist.

3. Packing material for use in pipe joints and capable of production ingreat lengths, from which desired portions may be cut to form individualjoint packings, and which will not support nor encourage bacterialgrowth, said packing comprising lengths of flexible sheet paperassembled to form a core and a core-enveloping jacketv respectively, thelengths of paper which constitute both core and jacket being hardtwisted to form strong cords, the core comprising a plur'ality of suchcords disposed to extend longitudinally of the packing and the jacketcomprising a plurality of such cords concatenated to form a tubularbraid, the packing material being pliable and capable of bending withoutbreaking and the jacket closely confining the core and holding it undertransverse compression, the packing comprising an impregnant moistureresistant substance, the packing being characterized by substantialuniformity of mass, and re-. sistance to tensile elongation and lateralcompressibility.

HENRY W. BUI-ILE-R.

